TNAG-2788-FCO40-4027-Chinese-policy-on-Hong-Kong-an-overview-1993 — Page 53

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

15.5.93

15.5.93

15.5.93

A Chinese official quoted by Ta Kung Pao

A Chinese official quoted by Wah Kiu Yat Po

Tsui Tong in HK Commercial Daily

CONFIDENTIAL

The Reuters despatch on May 14 on China's stand in the talks is unreliable. The Chinese Government's stand on Governor Chris Patten's "three violations" reform package has remained unchanged.

The British side's insistence that the Patten package is not a "three violations" package is already not in line with the conditions for the Sino-British talks. The Chinese side is sincere in negotiating with the British side over political developments in HK, so long as the British side follows the "three conformities".

The Reuters report yesterday that China will be flexible towards the arrangements for functional constituency elections in the third round of talks was obviously manufactured by the same "sources" which has spread the news that the British side is prepared for the worst in the third round of talks. The purpose is to put the blame on the Chinese side should the next round of talks fail to make progress. In saying that China has made concessions on matters the British side wants to achieve in the talks, which implies that the Patten package is in line with the BL and is recognised by the Chinese side, the sources are also misleading HK people. The British side has been waging a war of nerves, using both pressurising and appeasement tactics, at a time when a decision has yet to be made on the MFN issue, to force the Chinese side to give way. It is also firm on using the Patten package as the basis of talks.

18.5.93

President Jiang Zemin at a meeting with visiting former British Prime

Minister Lord Callaghan

The talks on the 1994/95 electoral arrangements will achieve positive results as long as both sides abide by the JD, the principle of convergence with the BL, and the various Sino-British agreements and understandings.

CONFIDENTIAL

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